Jeremy Somogye
Eugene Water and Electric Board

Kim Ognisty
Pacific Gas & Electric

Todd Olson
PacifiCorp

DESCRIPTION

As hydropower infrastructure ages and environmental priorities shift, the conversation around decommissioning hydropower projects has gained increasing importance. This panel will provide an in-depth exploration of the various factors that can influence the decision to decommission hydropower facilities, as well as the complex journey from initial decision-making to the physical removal of dams.
Participants will gain valuable insights into the intricate regulatory frameworks that guide the decommissioning process, the crucial role of stakeholder engagement, and the need to balance the interests of diverse groups. The panel will also discuss the challenges and opportunities that arise, such as sediment management, habitat restoration, and the economic and community impacts on the path to dam removal.

This Panel is within the Regulatory and Policy Track at the conference. 
 
This session is a 201-level discussion for those looking to take a deeper dive into this subject matter.

Moderator:
Jeremy Somogye, Engineering Planner, Eugene Water and Electric Board

Panelists:

• Kimberly Ognisty, Chief Counsel, Pacific Gas & Electric
• Todd Olson, Director, Licensing & Compliance, PacifiCorp
• Nuria Holmes, Sr. Environmental Planner, Camas Consulting

Panelists Bios:

• Kim Ognisty is chief counsel at Pacific Gas and Electric Company and has been working in the hydropower industry since 2008. She is part of PG&E's Strategy and Policy group supporting PG&E's hydroelectric project fleet and manages legal compliance, license implementation, and relicensing issues associated with hydroelectric projects. Currently, Kim is working on 3 license surrender proceedings at PG&E that are in different stages of the surrender process.
• Jeremy Somogye's primary role at Eugene Water Electric Board (EWEB) is managing the decommissioning effort for the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project, but he often assists with various generation engineering and dam safety tasks as needed. Prior to joining EWEB in 2021, Jeremy was the Construction Services Manager for Lane County, Oregon for 5 years where he oversaw their construction engineering and utility permitting programs as well as their geotechnical and construction materials laboratory. Jeremy also worked for over 15 years as a geotechnical and construction engineering consultant where he gained extensive experience as an owner’s representative for many heavy civil, industrial, transportation, water resource and energy projects in the Midwest and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Jeremy’s civic experience includes 6 years as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Kalama, Washington where he gained additional insight into land use and civic master planning and navigating complex annexations.
• Todd Olson is the Director of Licensing and Compliance for PacifiCorp’s hydroelectric projects in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, and Montana. This position oversees the Hydro Resources Department’s efforts to acquire and implement the conditions of federal operating licenses and other related permits. Such actions include activities that protect cultural and historic resources, enhance fish and wildlife, and provide recreation opportunities at PacifiCorp’s projects. Mr. Olson received his B.S. in Biology from Oregon State University in 1986 and has worked for a variety of public and private organizations. He has been with PacifiCorp for over 32 years, all of that time working in Hydro Resources.
• Nuria Holmes is a Senior Environmental Planner with over 14 years of environmental compliance, hydropower licensing, and project management experience. She has worked on hydropower projects nationwide ranging from micro-turbine installations to pumped storage development for original licenses, relicensing and decommissioning alongside private utilities, developers, public utility districts, and municipal governments. Nuria specializes in managing strategic, multi-year efforts involving agency and Tribal review, technical studies, and long-term mitigation for a wide variety of clients and utilities in the West. As a former utility employee, Nuria understands the need for facilities that can integrate with variable resources and provide storage bandwidth, while balancing customer demands. She is skilled in client management, interpreting and navigating FERC public process and regulations, developing and managing environmental compliance programs and documents, and advising clients on opportunities and barriers throughout complex processes.